Man Admits Killing Wife, Receives 40-year Sentence

JOLIET — Six years after Genice Ivan was fatally stabbed and her father shot to death in Romeoville, her estranged husband pleaded guilty to murdering her.

James Ivan, 52, admitted the killing as part of a plea agreement last week in which prosecutors dropped murder charges in the father's slaying in exchange for a 40-year-prison term.

By eliminating the second charge, that of killing 71-year-old George Nischan with the victim's own gun, Ivan was spared a potential death sentence or mandatory life imprisonment if convicted of both killings.

Since his arrest in Georgia two years ago, prosecutors had said they planned to seek the death penalty against Ivan.

Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow said his office agreed to a 40-year prison term to spare Ivan's 8-year-old daughter from having to testify against her father at a trial.

The girl, then 2, witnessed her mother's murder, which took place June 30, 1990, in the Nischan family home.

Glasgow said that even with "good time" day-for-day credit since his arrest, Ivan would be 70 years old before he could be released.

Ivan, who has exhibited erratic behavior during numerous court appearances--once firing his public defender and often interrupting proceedings-- was well-behaved at Friday's sentencing, and expressed sorrow over the murder.